Electrical connector block



May 23, 1961 J. RoGoFF ETAL 2,985,861

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BLOCK Filed June 4, 1958 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BLOCK Julian Rogoif, New Rochelle, N.Y., and James D. Anderson, Norwalk, Conn., assignors to Burndy Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed June 4, 1958, Ser. No. 739,699

3 Claims. (Cl. 339-198) This invention relates to an electrical connector block for mounting electrical connectors and, more particularly, to insulated connector blocks for mounting a plurality ofseparable connectors of the spade and socket type.

In many applications where separable connectors of the spade and socket type are used, it is often desirable to electrically common or connect a plurality of wires. It is also desirable to terminate the wires with the separable connectors so that a particular circuit may be disconnected from the connector block without diiculty. However, it is equally important to ensure that the separable connectors do not become disconnected during normal operation'nor that adjacent connectors accidently short circuit.

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore,

is to provide an electrical connector block for separable connectors having locking means which prevent the unintentional removal of the separa-ble connectors.

Another object of our invention is to provide a connector Iblock having insulating shields which may be locked into position on the connector block.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a connector block in which the electrical connections may be made with free and easy access and the insulating cover applied later without the necessity of pre-threading the terminated Wire through the cover.

A further object of our invention is to provide a connector block and insulating cover wherein the tension in the terminated conductors is transmitted to the base and the insulating cover is not required to withstand load forces.

Other objects of our invention are to provide a connector block which can be manufactured in dilferent lengths and/or Widths and which can be cut `from standard size strip; and to provide a connector block with a multiplicity of connectors in a small area making possible an almost unlimited number of connecting positions.

One of the features of our invention is the provision of a connector block for multiple wire connections having an insulating base to which are mounted a plurality of spade-type connectors designed for connection to a plurality of socket connectors, each terminating an associated conductor. An insulating shield which may be detachable is provided which, when attached to the base, locks the socket connector to the spade connector mounted on the base, preventing their unintentional removal.

Ihe above-mentioned and other features and objects of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of the connector block of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of a plurality of socket connectors shown coupled to the spade connectors mounted on the connector block of our invention; and

l United States Patent O rice Figs. 3 and 4 are side views, partly in section, of alternative embodiments of the connector block in accordance with the principles of our invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a connector block 10 and its associated locking cover 11, in accordance with the principles of our invention, is therein shown to include a base member 12, preferably made of a dielectric material. A plurality of U-shaped terminals 13 and 14 are mounted to the base member 12 by means of a mounting screw or rivet 16. The U-shaped members 13 and 14 are electrically connected together or commoned and are terminated at each end of the U in a spade-type plug connector 18a, 18b, 18C and 18d. Thus each pair of plug connectors 18b and 18e; 18a and 18d form a bus, and by coupling more than one bus together, a plurality of commoning connectors are provided.

The dielectric base 12 is provided with a plurality of upstanding locking sections 20, 22 and 24, each located Ibetween two sets of commoning connectors. For example, between those connectors designated 18 and those designated 26 is located locking section 20. Each locking section 20 has spear-shaped shoulders 28 and 30. The locking sections are preferably molded in spaced apart relationship. Associated with the terminal block 10 is the dielectric cover 11. The dielectric cover 11 is divided into a plurality of sections by dielectric shields 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42. Alternate dielectric shields 34, 38 and 42 are molded to interlock with the spear-shaped points 28 and 30 of the upstanding locking sections of the base 12. The end portions 44 and 46 of the cover 11 have an internal flange 48 and 50 which, when the cover 11 is slid over the insulating base 12 from the front, snap over the rear section 49 and lock the cover in position on the base 12. Alternatively, the cover 11 may be pressed into the base from the top as might Ibe desirable when space is limited. j Y

Prior to placing the cover 11 in position, lthe separable socket connectors` 52, 53 and 54 are coupled to the vupstanding plug or spade connectors mounted onthe'base 12 in the usual manner. Obviously, itis not necessary that all the spade connectors beV utilized. Each of the socket connectors 52, 54 and 56 has a shoulder portion 58 and the Width of the socket connector is such that it passes the spear-shaped section 28 of the dielectric section 20. After the cover 11 is in place, the interlocking portion of the cover 34 overlaps the widest portion of a socket connector 58 and the neck of the connector is positioned under the shoulder and retained in place preventing its lremoval until such time as the cover 11 is rst removed. Moreover, the connection is completely surrounded and protected by the dielectric base 12 and cover 11. In addition, the block of our invention causes all tensile forces applied to the conductors to be transmitted to the base, and thus the cover need not be loadcarrying.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing, an alter-native embodiment of the connector block of our invention is therein shown to comprise a lhase S1 on which are mounted a plurality of spade connectors 5S as hereinbefore described. The base 51 is provided with a plurality of upstanding locking sections 56 which may be composed of resilient dielectric material. Each of the locking sections 56 is terminated by a pair of shoulders 59 and 60. A cover 62 is provided which includes a plurality of cooperating locking sections 64.

In use, the socket connectors 66 are connected to the spade connectors 54, and the cover 62 is attached to the base 51. When in place, the locking sections 64 of the cover 62 ensure that a shoulder 59 of the base locking sections S6 overlies the neck or tapered portions of the socket connectors 66, preventing their removal.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, still another embodiment of the connector block of our invention is therein shown to comprise a base 70 on which is mounted a plurality of U-shaped members 72 and 74, each terminated by the spade connectors previously described. A plurality ofr resilient dielectric locking shields 76 and 78 are attached to the base 70 by means of a screw 80. Each section 76 and 78 may be terminated by an offset shoulder 82 and a tapered portion 84.

In use, the socket connector 86 is connected to the spade connector of member 72 by pushing it past the tapered portion 84 of the locking section 76 and 78. This forces the resilient sections to be pushed apart permitting the connection to be made. As the neck 88 of the socket connector 86 is properly seated, the sections 76 and 78 return to the position illustrated and the shoulders 82 lock the connector in place. To remove the socket connector 86 from the member 72, it is necessary to rst force the locking sections 76 and 78 apart. The connector block of our invention permits the connections to be made first, and then the dielectric cover to be applied without requiring the threading of the conductors through the cover.

We have thus described our invention, but we desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of our invention, and, therefore, we claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which, objects of our invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

We claim:

l. A terminal block assembly for multiple wire connections comprising an insulating housing having a base, a plurality of insulating Walls perpendicular to said base dividing said housing into a plurality of compartments, a plurality of plug connectors electrically coupled tgether disposed in each of said compartments, each pair of said plurality of plug connectors including a U-shaped member having the free ends thereof perpendicular to said base and of a height less than the height of said walls, said U-shaped members being secured to said base intermediate the free ends thereof, a plurality of mating socket connectors each attached to the end of a wire for attachment to said plug connectors, each said socket connector having a surface discontinuity providing a maximum connector width; said walls including shoulders extending into said compartments to restrict the width of said compartments; said shoulders being disposed at a length substantially equal to the height of said socket connectors when said socket connectors are attached to said plug connectors; whereby said shoulders cooperate with said discontinuities to oppose the detachment of said socket connectors from said plug connectors.

2. A terminal block assembly according to claim l wherein said walls are composed of a resilient insulating material and said shoulders include an offset portion parallel to said base and a tapered portion on the opposite side of said olset portion from said base.

3. A terminal block assembly according to claim 1 Which further includes an insulating cover including a plurality of Walls dividing said cover into compartments, shoulders on said walls to co-act with the shoulders on the walls of said housing to prevent withdrawal of said socket connectors and means locking said cover to said housing, said cover allowing said wire connections to extend therethrough.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,356,752 Deysher Aug. 29, 1944 2,506,615 Rosen May 9, 1950 2,549,725 Uline et al. Apr. 17, 1951 2,760,173 Cunningham Aug. 21, 1956 2,805,405 Batcheller Sept. 3, 1957 2,840,794 Batcheller June 24, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 577,476 Great Britain May 20, 1946 644,540 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1950 

